The Aquarium of the Pacific will host a media preview Wednesday for “Jelly Dreamscapes,” a new immersive exhibition featuring hundreds of sea jellies and one of the most diverse collections of the creatures in the United States.
The preview, scheduled at 10 a.m. Wednesday, will offer a first look at the exhibit before it opens to the public Saturday.
Aquarium officials said the exhibition includes species never before displayed at the facility, including barrel jellies and California sea gooseberries, along with sea nettles and other glowing ctenophores from habitats around the world.
“Discover their beauty, diversity, and soul-soothing qualities as you drift through a gallery filled with hundreds of sea jellies from around the world set amidst meditative lighting and dream-like soundscapes,” officials said in a statement. “Explore species never before seen at the Aquarium and learn how its staff provide state-of-the-art animal care for these remarkable gelatinous creatures.”
A new short film about sea jellies and their role in ocean ecosystems also will be screened during the preview.
According to the aquarium, the exhibition is intended to highlight both the beauty of the creatures and what they can reveal about the changing health of oceans worldwide.
The Aquarium of the Pacific houses more than 12,000 animals and operates conservation and rehabilitation programs across Southern California, including Greater Los Angeles’ only sea turtle rehabilitation program.